THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 1. 
9 
“I write this from a sick bed, and must leave you to make 
the best of my views, as you have asked them. 
“ Yours, &c., 
“H, G. Bohn.” 
Boyd's Vulcan Scythe. —We can give unqualified 
praise to this implement. It is cheap, readily fitted to 
the handle by the gardener himself, without the aid of 
a blacksmith, and the quality of the blade is very 
superior. We have just seen one employed, and the 
man using it said— 11 It’s the best piece of steel I ever 
used." 
VENTILATION. 
I no not think there is any gardening practice of 
equal importance that is so loosely dealt with ; I do 
not, of course, mean among first-rate gardeners. It is 
commonly termed “ giving airbut I would ask, does 
this of necessity signify tire same in all cases as venti¬ 
lating? We all know, that by pushing down the sashes 
of a cucumber or other frame an inch or two at the 
back, an interchange of the warm and cold air instantly 
commences; but I am of opinion that it takes longer to 
change the whole volume by such means than people 
commonly imagine. It must not, however, be supposed 
that I am about to advise keen currants of air, on all oc¬ 
casions, both back and front; nothing of the kind, but 
merely to cause, if possible, a reconsideration of the 
question ;—a course frequently necessary in gardening 
affairs. 
The various habits of trees, or plants, the various 
phases they pass through during the year, together with 
the ever-varying character of the season, of course con¬ 
vey the idea, even to the uninformed, that not even ven¬ 
tilation can be made to assume an unvaried course ; and 
that, consequently, there is much room for practical ob¬ 
servation. 
We will select one fruit tree for a remark or two, as to 
ventilation —the Vine. For instance, what fruit has a 
greater aversion to cold currents of air than the Vine 
during the early swelling process? yet what practical man 
will advise their being kept in such a coddled condition 
when the stoniug is ended, and the colouring and fla¬ 
vouring process has to be carried out? Here, then, is 
surely a case in point: a fruit tree which, at two distinct 
periods, at least, requires two as distinct modes of venti¬ 
lation, or air-giving; the one recognising the propriety 
of lively or smart currents, the other, an exceedingly 
quiet interchange without perceptible action. What¬ 
ever the arguments may be for this practice, I may, to 
save space, merely observe, that most of our best gar¬ 
deners fall in with it. 
But, indeed, not only Vines, but most other sorts have 
their periods when some modification of air-giving is 
requisite; and this shows that the subject deserves the 
most careful consideration. A moment’s solid reflec¬ 
tion would surely convince those who are not practical 
gardeners, that it is not by adopting just one idea about 
air-giving, and applying it in all weathers, that we may 
hope for the highest amount of'success; but rather in 
studying the habits of fruit-bearing trees, under a con¬ 
currence of favourable circumstances, in their native 
haunts. 
Here it may be seen, if my arguments carry any real 
weight, that when we take into consideration the present 
position of our forcing-houses, pits, frames, &c., in 
conjunction, wo shall find, in general, no thoroughly 
recognised system; the any how plan suits. One man 
pushes down the glass of his pit, or frame, or lets down 
aback light or two of his Vinery, and thereby “ gives 
air.” A second likes to “tilt” them, as it is termed, 
whether it be by a brick-bat or certain iron machinery. 
But here to stay for a moment; if there be any principle 
in 3uch procedures, how few can tilt up the back lights 
of their Vinery by such practice. 
Again, let us turn for a moment to the common 
garden frame. Now, garden lights are, by common con 
sent, either pushed down or tilted at back : this is 
always called “ giving airand, verily, the title is time 
hallowed. I appeal, then, to all conversant with sound 
gardening, whether all these varying practices be strictly 
identical, or whether it is immaterial which way a 
thing is done ? 
I have often wondered why it is that frames and pits 
have not front ventilators always provided in them. I 
am aware it will be said that we can pull up lights, or 
sashes, as well as push them down; this is not, how 
ever, always convenient. Such practice answers well 
enough in summer, when the weather is safe; but sel 
dom answers in winter and early spring for delicate 
things. And, indeed, why be compelled to pull up 
lights, when a safe course of ventilation is so easily 
provided ? 
The ready displacement of confined damps in pits, or 
frames, to say little about houses, is a thing, as all 
gardeners know, of immense importance in gardening. * 
Bines in dung-heated pits, flowers forced early in such 
structures, and many of your half-hardy bedding things, 
as Verbenas, Calceolarias, Geraniums, &c., are apt to 
suffer much during winter by confined damps ; and 
many a time have we seen them in a sad state, albeit 
the lights had been pushed down or tilted on every 
occasion. A proper course of ventilation, however, 
would effect more in half-a-dozen hours, under a lively 
condition of atmosphere, than a whole week of the 
other mode. 
With regard to forcing-houses, the difference between 
morning and afternoon should be taken into considera¬ 
tion. Of course, where people do not ventilate all 
night, the inmates of forcing-houses may very naturally 
be supposed to have acquired a degree of tenderness. 
Such being the case, it becomes us to be cautious, and 
the propriety of giving air at the back for an hour or 
two at once suggests itself. But this accomplished, I 
think the importance of real ventilation, that is to say, 
air from front as well as back, may be readily seen. All 
this proceeds on the assumption, that forcing structures 
require daily ventilation. 
There are, however, numerous cases, as in Orchid 
culture, propagation matters, &c., in which the dispersion 
of air-moisture has to be avoided ; such I own to be 
exceptions to the plans here suggested. For fruits, how¬ 
ever, the propriety of a free circulation of air is obvious; 
few will doubt that high flavour and a handsome 
appearance are mainly owing to a free exposure to light 
and air. One thing I may observe, before concluding 
these remarks, that early closing-in of sun heat being a 
universally recognised maxim in forcing, it becomes 
imperative on all concerned to ventilate as early as 
possible. Indeed, the only time houses, in general, 
should be closed is from about four to seven p.m. 
R. Erhinqto’n. 
BEDDING GERANIUMS. 
Tn a letter just received from one of our first rate 
gardeners, he says, “ I grow Mangle's Variegated and all 
the leg-leaved, kinds by the thousands; the Scarlet Ivy- 
leaf, which was sent out by the Messrs. Standish and 
Noble, comes pink sometimes, but is pretty constant, 
and worth having. I have not seen you notice it.” 
About eighteen months back, another first-rate gar¬ 
dener asked in his letter, “Ilow comes it, that you, for 
